Scene from a Parked Car

Scenes from a Parked Car

 

By Rob Hing

Scene: Interior of a parked ’53 Chevy.  Dimly lit.  Five men sit, obscured by shadow.  Marvin (offscreen).”Lorenzo, hit it.”

Marvin extends his hand to Lorenzo. Closeup of hand and smoking joint as he passes it from rear driver’s side seat to Lorenzo in the driver’s seat.

Lorenzo, still obscured by darkness. turns slightly and takes the joint.

Lorenzo, large permed hair and all, turns back straight ahead and takes a puff.  He exhales slowly and hands it to his right.  The passenger looks slightly over and graciously accepts the joint before puffing.

Scene is clearly the interior of a ’53 Chevy.  The camera focuses on the man in the rear driver’s side seat..

He is wearing a light blue tuxedo suit, and he is watching the passenger take his drag thoughtfully.

Marvin: ” It’s pretty good shit, right?  I told you my hook up was right on.”

The sax man nods as he inhales and then passes back to the bass player behind him.

Marvin looks over to Bass player, then continues: ” I found this guy through my cousin- ”

Lorenzo turns and cuts him off: “Oh Ch-” (he begins questioningly)

Marvin puts a smooth hand on Lorenzo’s shoulder: “No brother, you don’t know him.” His eyes say shhhh.

The bass player exhales and hands the joint back to Marvin.

The short man in the middle seat exhales.

Short man: ” Yeah, but what were you crying about a second ago? ”

Marvin accepts the joint and gives the short man a contemptuous look: “I wasn’t crying about nothing.  I’m trying to teach you about the business, and I was telling you about why these gigs wreck my nerves.” He inhales deeply..coughing a bit as he hands the joint to Lorenzo.

Lorenzo: ” Aw man, these peckerwood kids are as quiet as mice… This gig is no sweat.  We come, we play, we go home and smoke some grass.” Lorenzo looks satisfies and motions for Marvin to pass the joint.

Marvin:  “That’s the thing. ” Marvin eyes Reggie in contempt. ” That is the thing.”The camera zooms in on him. He takes an extra pull from the joint.  Eyeing Reggie as he hands the joint to him.  ” These kids don’t hear us, brother.  They are out here in their starched clothes trying to kiss Miss. Poodle skirt and Mr. Penny loafers.  They don’t hear our music.  We would get more appreciation if we were playing to a crowd of deaf people. ”

Unseen sax player in the back seat: ” Deaf people would have more rhythm. ”

The men (except Marvin) snort and chuckle.

Lorenzo looks back to them:  ” I can hear those boys counting steps out on the dance-floor.  It’s messing up my timing!”

Marvin:  “Shit, I asked the boys what tunes they liked, and they said Mickey and Minnie mouse!”

The car erupts in laughter.

Marvin receives the joint as it returns in the order of the rotation:  “Man they wouldn’t know what key-”

A loud thud is heard, followed by the slamming of the trunk.

Lorenzo is seen peering out the rear window.

Marvin watches as Lorenzo opens his door off camera.  He follows Lorenzo as he turns towards the trunk.

Lorenzo is seen through the rear driver’s side window.

Lorenzo: ” Tha’ hell are you doin’ to my car?!”

All four men can be seen briefly in the car.

White boy off camera: ” Hey beat it spook, this don’t concern you!”

All the men open a door and emerge from the car.  From the now empty car interior Marvin speaks.

Marvin: “Who you calling, Spook, Peckerwood?”

 

End scene